Apparatus and method for forming sales packages



June 25, 1963 R. E. MERRITT ETAL 3,094,823

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING SALES PACKAGES 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 3, 1962 INVENTORS! ROBERT E. MEREHT and FRANK SvbNoR BY $mifilwiATTORNEYS June 25, 1963 R. E. MERRlTT ETAL 3,

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING SALES PACKAGES Filed Jan. 3, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBE-RT E. MEERITT and FRANK fnvbuok ATTORNEYsUnited States Patent Office 3,094,823 Patented June 25, 1963 3,094,823APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING SALES PACKAGES Robert E. Merritt andFrank Sydnor, Mount Airy, N .C-, assignors to Renfro Hosiery MillsCompany, Mount Airy, NC, a corporation of North Carolina Filed Jan. 3,1962, Ser. No. 164,057 16 Claims. (Cl. 53-28) The present inventionrelates generally to an improved apparatus and method for formingpackages of a continuous strip of flexible material and moreparticularly to an improved apparatus and method for forming bags orenvelopes adapted to receive articles of wearing apparel, such as socks,to form sales display packages which prevent soiling of the articleswhile permitting inspection and easy removal of the articles from thepackages.

It is well known to package articles, such as shirts, sweaters and thelike in transparent bags or envelopes which are formed by foldingcontinuous strip material longitudinally, severing and heat-sealing thefolded material transversely to form open-ended bags and thenheatsealing the open end to form a closed envelope encasing the article.Although, this type of package provides attractive display of thearticles and prevents them from becoming soiled, it is not easy toremove the articles from the envelopes and because some air is trappedin the sealed packages, they cannot be compressed flat when being boxedfor shipment.

With the foregoing inmind, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide an improved apparatus and method for forming bagsor envelopes for use in a sales package of the type having front andrear panels that are heat-sealed together at the sides and in which anaccess and air escape opening is formed in one panel by making the panelin two sections and overlapping adjacent portions of the two sections.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus and method which permits the economical formation of bags orenvelopes of the type described from a continuous strip of thermoplasticmaterial, such as polyethylene.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus and method for forming sales packages, bags or envelopes ofthe type described wherein a folded over flexible strip of thermoplasticmaterial is fed longitudinally, one fold of the flexible material isslit during the feeding thereof, portions of the fold adjacent the slitare guided int-o overlying relationship, and then the folded over stripmaterial is severed and heat-sealed transversely to form open-ended bagsor envelopes in which one side of the envelope is formed of two sectionswhose edges overlap to form an access opening.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic isometric view of the upper portion ofthe improved bag forming apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 but omiting many of the machineparts to illustrate the manner in which the bags are formed by theimproved apparatus and showing one of the completed open-ended bags withan article positioned therein;

FIGURE 3 schematically illustrates the apparatus for closing the openend of the bag;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 except looking at the oppositeside of the folded strip material and illustrating the manner in whichone told of the material is slit and then guided into overlappingrelationship;

folds of the strip material are separated and then slit;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of the completed package or envelope; and

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 77 and illustrating the manner in which portions of oneside of the package overlap each other to form an access opening. I

Referring particularly to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the frame ofthe improved apparatus includes a vertical standard 10, a cross member11 suitably secured to the post 10 and a pair of outwardly projectingsupport arms 12 and 13. One end of each of the arms 12, 13 is secured tothe cross member 11 and the free ends have downwardly extendingportions. The support arm 13 rotatably supports a roll R of foldedflexible material F which is preferably transparent and may havesuitable indicia printed thereon. The material F may be formed of anysuitable thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene, or other type ofmaterial which is heat-scalable or material which is treated to renderit heat-scalable.

The ends of a pair of guide rods 20 and 21 are support-ed in a bracket22 which is fixed on the vertical support post 10 and a bracket 23. Amaterial separating rod 25 is supported in the bracket 23 for inward andoutward adjustment and extends inwardly between the guide rods 20 and21. One end of a bracket 26, best shown in FIG- URE 4, is adjustablysupported on the rod 25 and extends downwardly therefrom where its lowerend adjustably supports a blade supporting rod 30. The inner end of theblade supporting rod 30 has a sharpened blade 31 suitably securedthereto. The blade 31 is positioned to slit one fold of the material F,in a manner to be later described.

One end of a feed roll 33 is rotatably supported in a bracket carried bythe upper end of the vertical standard 10. The shaft of the feed roll 33is provided with a oneway clutch and a driving pinion 35 (FIGURE 1)which is engaged by a vertically movable rack 36. The rack 36 isconnected to the upper end of the piston rod of a pneumatically operablecylinder 37 which is supported on the post 10. A pair of frictionrollers 40 and 41 are disposed above the feed roll 33 and engage thematerial F as it passes thereover. The friction rollers 40 and 41 aresuitably supported on a rod'42, opposite ends of which are suitablysupported in brackets 43, 44 adjacent opposite ends of the feed roll 33.

A Y-shaped material guide wire 45 engages the outer edge of one fold ofthe film material and is adjustably supported in one end of a support"bar 46, the other end of which is suitably secured to the arm 13. Thedownwardly extending free end portions of the arms 12 and 13 supportopposite ends of substantially V-shaped guide wires 50 and 51, themedial portions of which extend inwardly between the two folds of thematerial F to maintain them separated.

A heated material severing and sealing blade 55 is suitably supportedfor movement into and out of engagement with a block 56. When the blade55 is moved into engagement with the block 56, it will simultaneouslysever and seal or seam together adjacent folds of the film material Fwhich is positioned therebetween.

Method of Operation As has been stated, it is preferred that the filmmaterial F be folded longitudinally along a medial portion before it iswound to form the roll R. However, it is to be understood that thematerial may be supplied in flat condition and in this case theapparatus could be provided with j 3 means for folding the flat filmmaterial as it feeds into the apparatus. I

In the present instance, the material F is folded before it is woundonto the roll R and, for ease of description, one fold of the materialis indicated at 60 and the other at 61 (FIGURE 5). The folded film Fpasses upwardly from the roll R, above the guide rod 20, then downwardlybeneath the guide rod 21 (FIGURES 2 and 5). As the film F extendsbetween the guide rods 20 and 21, the two folds 60 and 61 are separatedby the separator rod 25 (FIGURES 4 and 5) which extends inwardly betweenthe two folds of the film F. While the folds 60 and 61 are separated bythe rod 25 (FIGURE 5), the fold 60 is engaged by the blade 31 to slitthe same and provide a pair of free edges which are positionedintermediate opposite edges of the fold 60.

The slitting of the fold 60 divides the same into two separate portions,indicated at 60a and 60b in FIGURE '4. The folded film F passes upwardlyfrom the guide rod 21, over the feed roll 33 and then downwardlytherefrom. The folds 60 and 61 are separated by the guide wires 50, 51and their lower transverse edges are heat-sealed together to form anarticle receiving pocket therein (FIG- URES 2 and 4).

As the folded film F extends downwardly from the feed roll 33, the outeredge of the slit portion 60b is engaged by the Y-shaped guide wire 45and guided inwardly to cause adjacent portions of the slit portions 60aand 60b to overlap each other, as is clearly shown in FIGURES 2 and 4.The two folds of the film F are held in separated position by the guidewires 50 and 51 so that an operator can easily place an article, such asa pair of socks, indicated at S in FIGURE 2, into the article receivingpocket above the joined together transverse edge of the film F.

When an article is placed in the article receiving pocket between thefolds of the film F, as shown in FIGURE 2, the operator may actuate theapparatus and the cylinder 37 will then raise and lower the rack 36 toimpart rotation to the feed roll 33 to thereby draw a predeterminedlength of film F from the roll R and move the pocket containing thearticle S below the level of the heat-sealing blade 55. As soon as thefilm has moved downwardly far enough that the article S is positionedjust below the heated blade 55, it will move inwardly against the block56 to simultaneously sever and heat-seal the folded film transverselyand form an open-ended package, as shown in the lower portion of FIGURE2. This inward movement of the heated blade 55 also heat-seals the lowertransverse edges of the folds 60, 61 together to form another articlereceiving pocket.

The open-ended package thus formed (FIGURES 2 and 3) includes a sidepanel, broadly indicated at 70, and a second side panel 71 with the endsof the side panels being integrally connected together along a fold lineindicated at 72 (FIGURE 7). The opposite side edges of the panels 70 and'71 are joined together along heat-sealed edges indicated at 73 and 74.The panel 70 is divided into two portions 70a and 70b which overlap attheir juncture's to form an access opening in a medial portion of thepanel 70 of the bag or envelope.

The open-ended envelope with the article S therein may be closed in aseparate opera-tion, as shown in FIG- URE 3, or the apparatus shown inFIGURE 2 may be modified to include means for closing the open-endedenvelope before it is discharged from the apparatus. As shown in FIGURE3, the open-ended envelope is positioned with one end on a bar 80 and aheated blade 81 is brought downwardly into contact with the bar 80 tosimultaneously sever and heat-seal together the panel portion 70b andthe panel 71 along a seam line 82 (FIGURE 7 be easily reversed by merelychanging the manner in which the portion 60b of the film F is guidedinto overlapping relationship with the portion 60a. Also, it is possibleto vary the position on the panel 70 at which the portions 70a and 70boverlap by merely changing the transverse position of the blade 31 alongthe width of the fold 60 of the film F.

Although the package produced with the apparatus and method of thepresent invention is shown containing socks S, it is to be understoodthat other types of articles could also be packaged. In the completedpackage, the access opening formed in the panel 70 between theoverlapping edges of the panel portions 70a and 70b may be utilized toinspect or remove the goods packaged therein and this access openingalso allows air in the package to escape. This is important when a greatnumber of these pack-ages are" stacked in a shipping box or the like, inwhich event, the packages can be compressed and will not take up as muchspace as they would if they were filled or partially filled with trappedair. Also, this type of package prevents the goods packaged therein frombecoming soiled as very little, if any, dirt, dust and the like canenter through the access opening between the overlapped edges of thepanel portions 701: and 701;.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

We claim:

1. An improved apparatus for forming open-ended envelopes of flexiblestrip material which has been folded widthwise to form a pair ofjuxtapositioned folds, said apparatus comprising (a) means for feedingthe folded strip material longitudinally along a predetermined path,

(b) means positioned in the path of travel of said folded strip materialfor longitudinally slitting one of the folds thereof to form adisconnected strip portion,

(0) means positioned adjacent the path of travel of said strip materialfor positioning proximal portions of said disconnected strip materialand said one fold in overlapping relationship with each other, and (d)means operatively associated with said feeding means for transverselysevering and joining together the folded and overlapped strip materialat longitudinally spaced points to form the side edges of the open-endedenvelopes.

2. An improved apparatus for forming open-ended envelopes of flexiblestrip material which has been folded widthwise to form a pair ofjuxtapositioned folds, said apparatus comprising (a) means for feedingthe folded strip material in a step-by-step manner and longitudinallyalong a predetermined path,

(b) means positioned in the path of travel of said folded strip materialfor longitudinally slitting one of the folds thereof to form adisconnected strip portion,

(0) mens positioned adjacent the path of travel of said strip materialfor positioning proximal portions of said disconnected strip materialand said one fold in overlapping relationship with each other, and

(d) means operatively associated with said feeding means fortransversely severing and joining together the folded and overlappedstrip material following each step-by-step movement to form the sideedges of the open-ended envelopes.

3. An improved apparatus for forming open-ended envelopes of flexiblestrip material which has been folded widthwise to form a pair ofjuxtapos-itioncd folds, said apparatus comprising (a) means for feeding,the folded strip material in a step-by-step manner and longitudinallyalong a pre- 7 determined path,

(b) means positioned in the path of travel of said folded strip materialfor separating the two folds of strip material,

(c) means positioned in the path of travel of said folded trip materialfor longitudinally slitting one of the separated folds thereof to form adisconnected strip portion,

(d) guide means positioned to engage said disconnected strip portion andposition an edge portion thereof in overlapping relationship with acorresponding edge portion of said one fold, and

(e) means operatively associated with said feeding means fortransversely severing and joining together the folded and overlappedstrip material following each step-by-step movement to form the sideedges of the open-ended envelopes.

4. An improved apparatus for packaging articles in open-ended envelopesfor-med of flexible strip material which has been folded widthwise toform a pair of juxtapositioned folds, said apparatus comprising (a)means for feeding the folded strip material in a step-by-step manner andlongitudinally along a predetermined path,

(b) means positioned in the path of travel of said folded strip materialfor longitudinally slitting one of the folds thereof as it is fedlongitudinally to form a disconnected strip portion,

() means positioned adjacent the path of travel of said strip materialfor positioning proximal portions of said disconnected strip materialand said one fold in overlapping relationship with each other,

(d) means operatively associated with said feeding means fortransversely severing and joining together the folded and overlappedstrip material following each step-by-step movement to form the sideedges of the open-ended envelopes, and

(2) means positioned between said slitting means and said severing meansfor separating the folds of the strip material to form an articlereceiving pocket adapted to receive an article before each feeding step.

5. An improved apparatus for packaging articles in open-ended envelopesformed of flexible strip material which has been folded widthwise toform a. pair of juxtapositioned folds, said apparatus comprising (a)means for feeding the folded strip material in a step-by-step manner andlongitudinally along a predetermined path,

(b) a blade supported for widthwise adjustment and in engagement withone fold of the strip material for longitudinally slitting the same asit is fed longitudinally to form a disconnected strip portion,

(0) means positioned adjacent the path of travel of said strip materialfor positioning proximal portions of said disconnected strip materialand said one fold in overlapping relationship with each other,

(d) means operatively associated with said feeding means fortransversely severing and joining together the folded and overlappedstrip material following each step-by-step movement to form the sideedges of the open-ended envelopes, and

(e) means positioned between said slitting means and said severing meansfor separating thefolds of the strip material to form an articlereceiving pocket adapted to receive an article before each feeding step.

6. An improved apparatus for packaging articles in open-ended envelopesformed of flexible strip material which has been folded widthwise toform a pair of juxtapositioned folds, said apparatus comprising (a)means for feeding the folded strip material in a 6 step-by-step mannerand longitudinally along a predetermined path,

(b) a separator rod supported to extend inwardly between the folds ofthe strip material and separate the same,

(c) a blade supported for widthwise adjustment and in engagement withone separated fold of the strip material for longitudinally slitting thesame as it is fed longitudinally to form a disconnected strip portion,

(d) means positioned adjacent the path of travel of said strip materialfor positioning proximal portions of said disconnected strip materialand said one fold in overlapping relationship with each other,

(e) means operatively associated with said feeding means fortransversely severing and joining together the folded and overlappedstrip material following each step-by-step movement to form the sideedges of the open-ended envelopes, and

(f) means positioned between said slitting means and said severing meansfor separating the folds .of the strip material to form' an articlereceiving pocket adapted to receive an article before each feeding step.

7. An improved appanatus for packaging articles in open-ended envelopesformed of thermoplastic strip material which has been folded widthwiseto form a pair of juxtapositioned folds, said apparatus comprising (a)means for feeding the folded strip material in a step-by-step manner andlongitudinally along a predetermined path,

(b) means positioned in the path of travel of said folded strip materialfor longitudinally slitting one of the folds thereof as it is ledlongitudinally to form a disconnected strip portion,

(0) means positioned adjacent the path of travel of said strip materialfor positioning proximal portions of said disconnected strip materialand said one fold in overlapping relationship with each other,

(d) means operatively associated with said feeding means fortransversely severing and heat-sealing together the folded andoverlapped strip material following each step-by-step movement to formthe side edges of the open-ended envelopes, and

(e) means positioned between said slitting means and said severing meansfor separating the folds of the strip material to form an articlereceiving pocket adapted to receive an article before each feeding step.

8. An improved apparatus for packaging articles in open-ended envelopescomprising (a) a frame,

(b) means supported by said frame for rotatably supporting a roll ofthermoplastic strip material which has been folded medially of its Widthto form a pair of juxtapositioned folds of substantially equal width,

(0) a feed roll rotatably supported on said frame and being operable towithdraw the folded strip material from the roll and feed the same in astep-by-step manner and longitudinally along a predetermined path,

(d) a blade adjustably supported on said frame and being positioned toslit one of the folds of the strip material longitudinally as it is fedlongitudinally to form a disconnected strip portion,

(e) guide means :adjustably supported on said frame and being positionedto engage and shift a proximal portion of said disconnected strip intooverlapping relationship with a proximal portion of said one fold,

( means operatively associated with said feed roll for transverselyseveringand heat-sealing the folded and overlapped strip materialfollowing each feeding step to form the side edges of the open-endedenvelopes and separate the open-ended envelopes from the folded stripmaterial, and

(g) a pair of V-shaped guide wires supported on said frame and beingpositioned to extend between and separate the two folds of stripmaterial following the slitting of said one fold to form an articlereceiving pocket adapted to receive an article before each feeding step.

9. A method of forming open-ended envelopes of flexible strip materialwhich has been folded widthwise to ftgrm a pair of juxtapositioned foldscomprising the steps (a) slitting one of the folds of the striplongitudinally to form a disconnected strip portion,

(b) positioning proximal portions of said disconnected strip portion andsaid one fold in overlapping relationship with each other, and

(c) transversely severing and joining together the folded and overlappedstrip material at longitudinally spaced points to form the side edges ofthe open-ended envelopes.

10. A method of forming open-ended envelopes of flexible strip materialwhich has been folded widthwise to fdrm a pair of juxtapositioned foldscomprising the steps 0 (a) feeding the folded strip materiallongitudinally along a predetermined path,

(b) slitting one of the folds of the strip material longitudinally toform a disconnected strip portion,

(c) positioning proximal portions of said disconnected strip portion andsaid one fold in overlapping relationship with each other, and

(d) transversely severing and joining together the folded and overlappedstrip material at longitudinally spaced points to form the side edges ofthe openended envelopes.

11. A method of forming open-ended envelopes of flexible strip materialwhich has been folded widthwise to form a pair of juxtapositioned foldscomprising the steps of (a) periodically feeding predetermined lengthsof the folded strip material longitudinally along a predetermined path,

(b) slitting one of the folds of the strip material longitudinally toform a disconnected strip portion,

(c) guiding the disconnected strip portion to position proximal portionsof said disconnected strip portion and said one fold in overlappingrelationship with each other, and

(d) transversely severing and joining together the folded and overlappedstrip material following each periodic feeding step to form the sideedges of the open-ended envelopes.

12. A method of forming open-ended envelopes of flexible strip materialwhich has been folded widthwise to form a pair of juxtapositioned foldscomprising the steps of (a) periodically feeding predetermined lengthsof the folded strip material longitudinally along a predetermined path,

(b) separating the two folds of strip material,

(0) longitudinally slitting one of the separated folds of the stripmaterial while it is being fed to form a disconnected strip portion,

(0!) positioning proximal portions of said disconnected strip portionand said one fold in overlapping relationship with each other, and

(e) transversely severing and joining together the folded and overlappedstrip material following each periodic feeding step to form the sideedges of the open-ended envelopes.

13. A method of packaging articles in open-ended envelopes formed offlexible strip material which has been folded medially of its width toform a pair of juxtapositioned folds of substantially equal widthcomprising the steps of V (a) feeding the folded strip materiallongitudinally along a predetermined path,

(12) slitting one of the folds of the strip material longitudinally toform a disconnected strip portion,

(0) guiding the strip material to overlap proximal portions of saiddisconnected strip portion and said one fold with each other,

(d) transversely severing and joining together the folded and overlappedstrip material along a predetermined seam line,

(e) separating the folds of strip material adjacent the transverse seamto form an article receiving pocket between the folds,

(f) placing an article in the article receiving pocket between thefolds,

(g) again longitudinally feeding the folded strip material with thearticle positioned between the folds, and

(h) again transversely severing and joining together the folded stripclosely adjacent the side of the article opposite the first formedtransverse seam to complete the open-ended envelope and separate thesame from the folded strip material.

14. A method of packaging articles in open-ended envelopes formed ofthermoplastic strip material which has been folded medially of its widthto form a pair of juxtapositioned folds of substantially equal widthcomprising the steps of (a) feeding the folded strip materiallongitudinally along a predetermined path,

([1) slitting one of the folds of the strip material longitudinally toform a disconnected strip portion,

(c) guiding the strip material to overlap proximal portions of saiddisconnected strip portion and said one fold with each other,

(d) transversely severing and heat-sealing together the folded andoverlapped strip material along a predetermined seam line,

(e) separating the folds of strip material adjacent the transverse seamto form an article receiving pocket between the fold-s,

(f) placing an article in the article receiving pocket between thefolds,

(g) again longitudinally feeding the folded strip material with thearticle positioned between the folds, and

\(h) again transversely severing and heat-sealing together the foldedstrip closely adjacent the side of the article opposite the first formedtransverse seam to complete the open'ended envelope and separate thesame from the folded strip material.

15. A method of packaging articles in envelopes formed 1 of flexiblestrip material which has been folded medi- I ally of its width to form apair of juxtapositioned folds of substantially equal width comprisingthe steps of (a) feeding the folded strip material longitudinally Ialong a predetermined path,

(b) slitting one of the folds of the strip material longitudinally toform :a disconnected strip portion,

(c) guiding the strip material to overlap proximal portions of saiddisconnected strip portion and said one fold with each other,

(d) transversely severing and joining [together the folded andoverlapped strip material along a predetermined seam line,

(e) separating the folds of strip material adjacent the transverse seamto form an article receiving pocket between the folds,

(f) placing an article in the article receiving pocket between thefolds,

(g) again longitudinally feeding the folded strip material with thearticle positioned between the folds, and

(it) again transversely severing and joining together the folded stripclosely adjacent the side of the article opposite the first formedtransverse seam to complete the open-ended envelope and separate thesame from the folded strip material, and

(i) joining together the disconnected strip portion and thejuxtapositioned fold of strip material along a line extending at rightangles to the second-formed seam and adjacent the open end of theenvelope to close the same.

16. A method of packaging articles in open-ended envelopes formed ofthermoplastic strip material which has been folded medially of its widthto form a pair of juxtapositioned folds of substantially equal Widthcomprising the steps of (a) feeding the folded strip material in astep-by-step manner and longitudinally along a predetermined path,

(11) longitudinally slitting one of the folds of the moving stripmaterial to form a disconnected strip portion,

() engaging the disconnected strip portion to shift the same and overlapproximal portions of said disconnected strip portion and said one foldwith each other,

(d) transversely severing and heat-sealing together the folded andoverlapped strip material along a predetermined seam line,

(e) separating the folds of strip material adjacent the transverse seamto form an article receiving pocket between the folds,

(f) placing an article in the article receiving pocket between thefolds,

(g) again longitudinally feeding the folded strip material with thearticle positioned between the folds, and

(it) again transversely severing and heat-sealing together the foldedstrip closely adjacent the side of the article opposite the first formedtransverse seam to complete the open-ended envelope and separate thesame from the folded strip material, and

(i) severing and heat-sealing the envelope adjacent its open end andalong a line extending at right angles to the side seams to jointogether the disconnected strip portion and the juxtapositioned fold andclose the envelope.

No references cited.

1. AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FORMING OPEN-ENDED ENVELOPES OF FLEXIBLESTRIP MATERIAL WHICH HAS BEEN FOLDED WIDTHWISE TO FORM A PAIR OFJUXTAPOSITIONED FOLDS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING (A) MEANS FOR FEEDINGTHE FOLDED STRIP MATERIAL LONGITUDINALLY ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, (B)MEANS POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID FOLDED STRIP MATERIAL FORLONGITUDINALLY SLITTING ONE OF THE FOLDS THEREOF TO FORM A DISCONNECTEDSTRIP PORTION, (C) MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAIDSTRIP MATERIAL FOR POSITIONING PROXIMAL PORTIONS OF SAID DISCONNECTEDSTRIP MATERIAL AND SAID ONE FOLD IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH EACHOTHER, AND (D) MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FEEDING MEANS FORTRANSVERSELY SEVERING AND JOINING TOGETHER THE FOLDED AND OVERLAPPEDSTRIP MATERIAL AT LONGITUDINALLY SPACED POINTS TO FORM THE SIDE EDGES OFTHE OPEN-ENDED ENVELOPES.